Isaac Asimov is widely considered a master of hard science fiction and, along with Robert A. Heinlein and Arthur C. Clarke, he was considered one of the “Big Three” science fiction writers during his lifetime. Asimov’s most famous work is the Foundation Series, his other major series are the Galactic Empire series and the Robot series. The Foundation series won the one-time Hugo Award for “Best All-Time Series” in 1966.

The Foundation is highly recommended to anyone who admit that they have a keen interest in sic-fi. The foundation series is considered as greatest science-fiction novels ever written, these novels are not recommended for those who are only mildly interested in sicience-fiction. If you are new to sci-fi genre, start with something lighter and once you are comfortable with the genre then you can start with this series.

The foundation and empire start exactly after the event of the foundation. In the foundation, Hari Seldon the great mathematician has forseen the end of galactic empire by using the mathematics known as psychohistory, a concept of mathematical sociology. Using the laws of mas action – psychohistory can predict the future but only on a large-scale. It works on the principle that the behavior of a mass of people is predictable if the quantity of this mass is very large (equal to the population of the galaxy, which has a population of quadrillion of humans, inhabiting millions of star systems). The larger the number, the more predictable is the future. So he establish two foundations each at different end of galaxy to minimize the barbaric period expected to follow the demise of empire from 30,000 years to 1,000 years and to establish the second empire.

After the 200 years since it’s establishment, the first foundation has conquered the most of the surrounding planets using it’s economic rule, going as per Seldon’s plan. This book is divided into two parts namely ‘The General’ & ‘The Mule’ and is more focused on the developmental of plot than first book which was divided on 5 loosely related chapters. In first part named ‘The General’ – the first foundation faces the new and much more serious threats from dying Empire. The general Beo Riose – the last strong General of the Galactic Empire – after investigating the so-called ‘magicians’ from the foundation, finds out about Hari Seldon’s plan of second empire – and concludes that the foundation is the real threat to galactic empire.

The second part – The Mule – is mainly focused on individual who named himself ‘The Mule’ and is conquering the planets one by one without a fight. So little is known about the ‘The Mule’ and about his past,only few knows how he looks and that he has super powers which can be the biggest threat to Seldon’s plan – sensing this The Foundation citizens Toran and Bayta Darell along with psychologist Ebling Mis – travel to different worlds of the Foundation, and finally to the Great Library of Trantor to discover more about the ‘Mule’ and most importantly to find ‘the second foundation’ [no one knows about it’s location or whether it’s exist or not] and to warn them about the growing threat of ‘The Mule’.

“The Mule” was first published in the November and December 1945 issues of Astounding Science Fiction. The first part of the book – The General – is quite straight forward in which foundation faces the empire and as per Seldon’s plan they execute their strategy against galactic empire.

The second story is quite interesting and ingenious, in which the flaws in Seldon’s plan are bought into light. This story told in terms of suspense built around the mule, of whom very little is know in entire galaxy. The notable thing about the second part is mystery Asimov built around the mule which will keep reader glued to the book till the end. Asimov has written it so well that by the time you finish second book you will be thinking ‘wow it’s awesome’ – desperate for more – you will start reading third book in series.

Although small and seemingly helpless, the Foundation had managed to survive against the greed of its neighboring warlords. But could it stand against the mighty power of the Empire, who had created a mutant man with the strength of a dozen battlefleets…?

If you are a science fiction fan and haven’t read foundation series by Asimov then your missing something amazing, I will recommend this for all sci-fi fans.